1917 Navy, is it legit?

milesc2 · 12-25-2023, 09:14 AM

I picked up this 1917 Navy online. Only have one decent photo of it so far, but I could see serial number halos under the barrel so I bought it. Seller says it’s all matching except the mag.

Can you guys see anything wrong with it? Does not look counterfeit to me, but I’m no expert. Got it for 2K, took a gamble. How did I do?

Thanks,
-Miles

spangy · 12-25-2023, 11:43 AM

Merry Christmas Miles

Your NAVY is on my wish list and @ 2K you did well IMO.
There are qualifiers though ... corrosion issues & bore being chief among them ... is the bore OK, any internal rust problems ??

Otherwise Congratulations

Norme · 12-25-2023, 03:06 PM

Hi Miles,
Welcome to the Navy Luger owner's club!
Your Navy looks legit in the photos you post, however we need much more than those views to be sure. What is the serial number, it may be a known gun?
Regards, Norm

milesc2 · 12-25-2023, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norme

Hi Miles,
Welcome to the Navy Luger owner's club!
Your Navy looks legit in the photos you post, however we need much more than those views to be sure. What is the serial number, it may be a known gun?
Regards, Norm

I will post the serial number and more photos as soon as it’s in hand.

Thanks!

Blm14740 · 12-26-2023, 01:02 AM

If it proves to be legit and you got it for 2k, you hit a home run!

-Brandon

Mac Cat · 12-26-2023, 01:35 AM

Welcome to the forum.

Your 1917 Navy luger looks pretty good.
The grips are in good shape and the magazine may be correct (concentric circles and wood base)
Matching barrel and halos are a very good sign.

The finish is pretty good on the strawed parts (takedown, trigger and safety lever).

The pictures are too dark to make out much else.

There is a lot more to look for, particularly under the barrel, inside and the magazine.

I think you did good, too !

lugerholsterrepair · 12-26-2023, 07:52 PM

It MIGHT be the white background..a less than good background for photos but the pistol looks too black? Maybe a Russian dip?

Mac Cat · 12-27-2023, 12:31 AM

Would a Russian dip leave the straw parts untouched ?
I think it's just low grade photography, but I'm anxious to see more !!

milesc2 · 12-29-2023, 03:23 PM

Here are some more detailed photos. Looks like a nice one to me. Please let me know what you think.

milesc2 · 12-29-2023, 03:27 PM

More photos

Norme · 12-29-2023, 04:06 PM

Hi Miles? It's a beautiful gun and looks all original to me.
How about the magazine?
Norm

milesc2 · 12-29-2023, 04:07 PM

Mag is unmarked. Is this one already on the list of know guns by chance?

milesc2 · 12-29-2023, 04:38 PM

Forgot one.

spangy · 12-29-2023, 04:49 PM

milesc2 With these pics and seeing the guns interior I am even more impressed ... you did fantastic @ 2k. I still wonder about the bore but it is probably ok.

Love the type 2 gravity knife too.

milesc2 · 12-29-2023, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spangy

milesc2 With these pics and seeing the guns interior I am even more impressed ... you did fantastic @ 2k. I still wonder about the bore but it is probably ok.

It was hard to photograph, but looks like factory new to me.

Blm14740 · 12-29-2023, 05:27 PM

Great score! Congratulations!

spangy · 12-29-2023, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milesc2

It was hard to photograph, but looks like factory new to me.

I suspect looking at the witness mark that the barrel has been reworked at some point ... typically Navy Luger's were fired often as Imperial kriegsmarine were highly trained. One must also consider these guns operated in a salt water environment too.

Great gun ... I'm jealous 4 sure

Mac Cat · 12-29-2023, 08:23 PM

[QUOTE]Is this one already on the list of know guns by chance?/QUOTE]

No, it's not on Norm's Navy list.
It goes from 3696 to 3713 for 1917
I'm sure he will want to add yours.

Norme · 12-30-2023, 08:06 AM

Hi Miles,
Your beautiful gun is a new listing on the Navy List. If you would like a link to the list send me a PM (Personal Message) with your email address, I'll send you the link.
Regards, Norm

milesc2 · 01-05-2024, 09:51 PM

Found a decent stock replica. Waiting for some leather parts now.

12-25-2023, 11:43 AM	#2
spangy Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 632 Thanks: 3,206 Thanked 1,068 Times in 437 Posts	Merry Christmas Miles Your NAVY is on my wish list and @ 2K you did well IMO. There are qualifiers though ... corrosion issues & bore being chief among them ... is the bore OK, any internal rust problems ?? Otherwise Congratulations __________________ Whoever said that "money can't buy you happiness" never bought a Luger. WTB - Take Down Lever & Trigger Plate (#90) for an Imperial Artillery.

12-26-2023, 07:52 PM	#7
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,134 Times in 1,439 Posts	It MIGHT be the white background..a less than good background for photos but the pistol looks too black? Maybe a Russian dip? __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

12-29-2023, 04:49 PM	#14
spangy Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 632 Thanks: 3,206 Thanked 1,068 Times in 437 Posts	milesc2 With these pics and seeing the guns interior I am even more impressed ... you did fantastic @ 2k. I still wonder about the bore but it is probably ok. Love the type 2 gravity knife too. __________________ Whoever said that "money can't buy you happiness" never bought a Luger. WTB - Take Down Lever & Trigger Plate (#90) for an Imperial Artillery.

12-25-2023, 03:06 PM	#3
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Miles, Welcome to the Navy Luger owner's club! Your Navy looks legit in the photos you post, however we need much more than those views to be sure. What is the serial number, it may be a known gun? Regards, Norm

12-26-2023, 01:02 AM	#5
Blm14740 User Join Date: May 2019 Location: Tennessee Posts: 54 Thanks: 7 Thanked 61 Times in 18 Posts	If it proves to be legit and you got it for 2k, you hit a home run! -Brandon

12-26-2023, 01:35 AM	#6
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 769 Thanks: 2,191 Thanked 656 Times in 350 Posts	Welcome to the forum. Your 1917 Navy luger looks pretty good. The grips are in good shape and the magazine may be correct (concentric circles and wood base) Matching barrel and halos are a very good sign. The finish is pretty good on the strawed parts (takedown, trigger and safety lever). The pictures are too dark to make out much else. There is a lot more to look for, particularly under the barrel, inside and the magazine. I think you did good, too !

12-27-2023, 12:31 AM	#8
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 769 Thanks: 2,191 Thanked 656 Times in 350 Posts	Would a Russian dip leave the straw parts untouched ? I think it's just low grade photography, but I'm anxious to see more !!

12-29-2023, 04:06 PM	#11
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Miles? It's a beautiful gun and looks all original to me. How about the magazine? Norm

12-29-2023, 04:07 PM	#12
milesc2 User Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: USA - Kansas City Posts: 216 Thanks: 332 Thanked 261 Times in 67 Posts	Mag is unmarked. Is this one already on the list of know guns by chance?

12-29-2023, 05:27 PM	#16
Blm14740 User Join Date: May 2019 Location: Tennessee Posts: 54 Thanks: 7 Thanked 61 Times in 18 Posts	Great score! Congratulations!

12-30-2023, 08:06 AM	#19
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Miles, Your beautiful gun is a new listing on the Navy List. If you would like a link to the list send me a PM (Personal Message) with your email address, I'll send you the link. Regards, Norm